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White Upsets Power in Last Match of the Day

It was left to the final match on the all-glass court at the Khalifa Squash
Complex to produce the only upset of the day when Scotland's John White
defeated second-seeded Canadian Jonathon Power in a gruelling 70-minute
quarter-final of the $120,000 Qatar Squash Classic in Doha.

White's impressive 13-15, 15-14, 15-13, 15-8 triumph - a repeat of the
Australian-born Scot's victory over the world No2 at the same stage of the
Qatar event last year, and in the semi-finals of the British Open in April -
takes the world No5 into the semi-finals against the 2001 runner-up David
Palmer.

The third seed from Australia survived a tough battle with Frenchman Thierry
Lincou before beating the sixth seed 15-10, 15-13, 10-15, 15-10 in 72
minutes. "I don't think that I have played much better than the first game
today," said Palmer later. "I had a few lapses later, but I have things
together at the moment."

In the top half of the draw, England's top seed Peter Nicol defeated Anthony
Ricketts, the ninth seed from Australia, 15-12, 15-12, 15-13 and will now
take on another Australian Stewart Boswell, the fourth seed, who fought back
from a game down to end Malaysian Ong Beng Hee's run in a 13-15, 15-13,
15-12, 15-7 scoreline.

In the $102,500 Qatar Women's World Open Squash Championship, Australia's
world No1 Sarah Fitz-Gerald soared into the last four for the eighth time
when she beat fifth seed Vanessa Atkinson - 13 years after making her first
World Open semi-final appearance in the Netherlands in 1989.

The defending champion from Melbourne, who is seeking a record fifth world
title, despatched the Dutch No1 9-5, 9-1, 9-6 in 30 minutes to set up a
meeting with England's fourth seed Linda Charman. The world No5 from
Eastbourne in Sussex took exactly twice as long to overcome compatriot Tania
Bailey, the 8th seed, 2-9, 9-5, 9-4, 7-9, 9-1.

"I've got to capitalise on what I did today and prepare to play Linda," said
Fitz-Gerald, whose luggage - booked onto a flight to Doha which was later
cancelled due to the weekend's storms in England - has still failed to
arrive. "I've got some borrowed clothes but hope my luggage arrives soon!
As it includes the World Open trophy, I hope we get it back to present to the
winner!"

The other women's semi-final will also feature two players who reached the
last four in contrasting styles. England's US-based Natalie Pohrer, the
third seed, was 6-1 up in the fifth game against Australia's sixth-seeded
Rachael Grinham, then had to save a match ball at 7-8, before she was able to
claim her 6-9, 9-7, 9-5, 4-9, 10-8 victory in 72 minutes.

Her next opponent Carol Owens, however, dropped just two points in her
whirlwind 22-minute win. The 2000 champion from New Zealand, the No2 seed,
crushed England's surprise quarter-finalist Jenny Tranfield 9-1, 9-0, 9-1.

I couldn't have prepared better, but I have been so nervous all week," said
Pohrer after her win. "Rachael has improved so much in the last year. She
retrieves so well and has such a random range of strokes. I'm relieved to
get through - but I need to find my length and calm down."

RESULTS:

Qatar Women's World Open Squash Championship, Doha, Qatar:

Quarter-finals:
[1] Sarah Fitz-Gerald (AUS) bt [5] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) 9-5, 9-1, 9-6
(30m)
[4] Linda Charman (ENG) bt [8] Tania Bailey (ENG) 2-9, 9-5, 9-4, 7-9, 9-1
(60m)
[3] Natalie Pohrer (ENG) bt [6] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 6-9, 9-7, 9-5, 4-9,
10-8 (72m)
[2] Carol Owens (NZL) bt [15] Jenny Tranfield (ENG) 9-1, 9-0, 9-1 (22m)

Qatar Squash Classic, Doha, Qatar:
Quarter-finals:
[1] Peter Nicol (ENG) bt [9] Anthony Ricketts (AUS) 15-12, 15-12, 15-13 (50m)
[4] Stewart Boswell (AUS) bt [7] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) 13-15, 15-13, 15-12, 15-7
(69m)
[3] David Palmer (AUS) bt [6] Thierry Lincou (FRA) 15-10, 15-13, 10-15,
15-10 (72m)
[5] John White (SCO) bt [2] Jonathon Power (CAN) 13-15, 15-14, 15-13, 15-8
(70m)

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